A podcast telling the story of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 476 AD to 1453. www.thehistoryofbyzantium.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you explain your strange interest in Byzantium to your friends and family? I argue that you can't understand the modern world without Byzantium.This is the last episode of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/06/2026 • 24:14
I answer the final batch of questions which came in after 1453. They are mostly fun speculation or about me and the podcast. Our Constantine Acrostic Christianized the Roman state,Oldest offspring of the Great.Nearly reigned one hundred days,Saved the city, so they say.Theophanes called him dung,Assassinated by his mum.Noted writer, purple born,The Slayer's brother earns our scorn.If Monomachos tried his best,No Doukas could save the rest.Eleven fell amongst the crowd,So his forebears would be proud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17/06/2026 • 32:32
A discussion with Professor Anthony Kaldellis about how the Romans became Greeks.Anthony Kaldellis is the Gaylord Donnelly Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09/06/2026 • 130:55
This is our last chance to talk about the Crusades on this podcast. So I put listener questions to Dr Nicholas Morton.Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His research focuses on the history of the Crusades and the Medieval Middle East between the tenth and the fourteenth centuries. He has written four other books on Crusading and the Crusader states as well as The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East. His new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03/06/2026 • 58:05
I pick the 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26/05/2026 • 20:43
I answer your questions about where the Romans got their gold from, how Romania ended up with a Romance language, Byzantine games of polo and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22/04/2026 • 39:51
I answer your questions about the Secret History, eunuchs, the Doukas name, the Byzantine crown, the Crown of Thorns and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15/04/2026 • 26:01
We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1297-1453.The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji. Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music. You can buy his music here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09/04/2026 • 47:28
We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1204-1297.The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji. Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music. You can buy his music here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31/03/2026 • 41:00
I tackle your counter factual questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24/03/2026 • 39:05
Did you hear that Constantine XI didn't die? That he was taken below ground by an angel and will one day return. We explore all the myths which attached themselves to the final Roman Emperor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17/03/2026 • 27:18
I investigate the death of the Emperor Constantine XI. What happened to him on the last day of his life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10/03/2026 • 66:30
We look at the reaction to the fall of Constantinople in Venice, Rome and Russia. And briefly discuss those who claimed descent from Constantine XI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02/03/2026 • 22:48
What if Belisarius had accepted the Goths offer and become the Western Roman Emperor in 540AD? This is one scenario I will be discussing on Saturday at the Intelligent Speech Conference. Use the code Byzantium to get 10% off your ticket https://intelligentspeechonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25/02/2026 • 01:49
We look at the fate of the Roman people after 1453. Many were enslaved while others searched desperately for loved ones. Those who adapted quickly to Ottoman rule could gain great wealth. While some fled to the West. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/02/2026 • 28:40
Mehmed did not make Constantinople his capital straight away. There were political, practical and psychological arguments against it. We talk about these and how the Sultan overcame them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17/02/2026 • 26:33
We look at all your questions about the siege of 1453. As well as the Palaiologan era in general.If you want to hear more about Trebizond then check out Byzansimp's Youtube series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10/02/2026 • 25:15
We follow events after the Ottomans broke through the walls of Constantinople. Taking the story up to the Sultans triumphant return to Edirne.To win the game Seljuk: Byzantium Besieged email me thehistoryofbyzantium at gmail.com before February 28th. See an interview with the creator here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03/02/2026 • 25:28
Professor Leonora Neville joins us to make the case for getting rid of the term Byzantium for good. She wants to replace it with a different term and a different understanding of Roman history.Professor Neville is the John W and Jeanne M Rowe Chair of Byzantine History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specialises in the 9-12th centuries of the Empire’s history. And her research has focussed on gender, civic religion, and religious aspects of political culture as well as historical memory and historiography.She has written several excellent books which have been vital to this podcast. Her guide to Byzantine historians is essential reading for students. Her book on Byzantine gender helped direct my episodes on ‘Women in the Roman world’ and her book on provincial authority was extremely helpful in understanding Kekaumenos. She is also a Senior fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and an editor of several book series. Find out more at the University of Madison-Wisconsin website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27/01/2026 • 39:57
As we look back at Byzantium I turned once more to Professor Anthony Kaldellis. I asked him to present a list of ten influential East Romans who were not featured heavily in the political narrative.Anthony Kaldellis is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of over a dozen books on Byzantium including the definitive history (The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium). Find out more here.Timestamps:Photios: 0.47 secs - 15m 08sMichael Psellos: 15m 09s - 31m 25sAnna Komnene: 31m 26s - 39m 25sEustathios of Thessaloniki: 39m 26s - 47m 27sGeorge Gemistos Plethon: 47m 28s - 1h 07m 22s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14/01/2026 • 70:37
As we look back at Byzantium I turned once more to Professor Anthony Kaldellis. I asked him to present a list of ten influential East Romans who were not featured heavily in the political narrative.Anthony Kaldellis is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of over a dozen books on Byzantium including the definitive history (The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium). Find out more here.Timestamps:Gregory of Nazianzus: 6m 10s - 21m 12sJohn Chrysostom: 21m 12s - 38m 12sTribonian: 38m 12s - 52m 40sAnthemius of Tralles: 52m 40s - 1h 02mTheodore the Studite: 1h 02m - 1h 15m Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06/01/2026 • 75:10
I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire.In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side. I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective.Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30/12/2025 • 46:49
To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II. My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life.Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world. Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval EmpireRoutledge (2022)Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15/12/2025 • 44:49
More Patreon Zoom Calls, more podcasts and more thank youshttps://www.patreon.com/historyofbyzantium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
19/08/2025 • 01:50
I talk about what will happen with the podcast next. Send your questions to thehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com This Sunday the 20th July I will be hosting 3 Zoom calls for Patrons at 1, 5 and 9pm UK time. It looks like I will be doing an AMA on Reddit this weekend too. I’ll post the Reddit address on the website as soon as I have it. If you’d like a History of Byzantium podcast t-shirt to commemorate 13 years of this obscure hobby of yours then go to etsy.com/shop/ImperialWares Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15/07/2025 • 03:24
Mehmed II becomes Sultan in 1451 and immediately makes plans to conquer Constantinople.Period: 1448-53 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13/07/2025 • 101:41
John VIII Palaiologos asks the Pope for an Ecumenical Council to reunite the churches. To his surprise the Pontiff says yes and a huge Byzantine contingent travels to Italy.Period: 1425-48 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20/06/2025 • 27:12
With the Ottoman civil war raging Manuel II Palaiologos tries to improve the Roman position and ensure his sons succeed him.Period: 1402-30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06/06/2025 • 30:23
Manuel II Palaiologos refuses to play vassal to Sultan Bayezid. So the Ottomans set up a permanent blockade of New Rome. The siege would last for eight years and only a miracle could save the Romans.Period: 1391-1402 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30/05/2025 • 30:00
John V Palaiologos faces rebellions from his sons and Grandsons. Forcing the Romans to become both Ottomans vassals and the pawns of Venice and Genoa.Period: 1371-91 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23/05/2025 • 25:37
